Grand jury indicts 35 in Georgia school cheating scandal

(CNN) -- A grand jury has indicted about three dozen educators in a standardized test cheating scandal that rocked Atlanta's public school system.

The indictment of the former system employees was announced Friday afternoon. The cheating scandal was one of the largest in the nation.

A 2011 investigation found cheating on standardized tests by nearly 180 educators in 44 Atlanta schools. Investigators say educators gave answers to students or changed answers on tests after they were turned in. Investigators say teachers who tried to report the cheating faced retaliation, creating a culture of "fear and intimidation."

Former Superintendent Beverly Hall was among those indicted. She faces charges including racketeering, making false statements and theft. She has previously denied the allegations, and her attorney couldn't immediately be reached Friday.